BornToLooze
Member
Last year I bought one of the Hornady presses but never finish setting it up. Is there anything I need besides the press? And would anybody have a link handy about setting up the dies?
What all do I need to get to finish my reloading setup?
- Thread starter BornToLooze
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Load books,at least a few,2or3. They all have an intro section that will give you info on any equipment you will need and how to set them up.
250sav
Member
Buy a really good up to date Reloading book and it will take you step by step thru the reloading process. It shouldn't cost you more than $20, and you'll have it for the rest of your life. There are many out there on the market. Sierra is a good one. Good Luck!
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Well... if all you have is a press, there's much more that's needed.
Before I go into a laundry list of stuff, is the press the only thing that you have?
Twoboxer
Member
Honestly, you appear to need too much help to make our help possible.
Whatever press you bought (might have been helpful to tell us, eh?), go to youtube and search videos showing its setup and use.
Buy a Hornady or Sierra Manual (whichever bullets you think you like better) and read all of the stuff in the sections before the load data begins.
Then come back and ask some more specific questions. And when you do, give us some idea of the caliber(s) and volume(s) you plan to load/shoot.
A good scale,powder measure and a hand priming tool will get you started
Hornady has some great videos on youtube.
OP
BornToLooze
Member
It's a Hornady Lock N Load Auto-Progressive Reloading Press, planning on around 1k rounds of .44 Special a month.
The press is all I have, I got it a year ago and kind of forgot about getting the rest of the stuff until I got a .44 Special and all I can find locally are cowboy loads for it.
The press is all I have, I got it a year ago and kind of forgot about getting the rest of the stuff until I got a .44 Special and all I can find locally are cowboy loads for it.
goodguywithagun
Member
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You'll need a tumbler (I have a Frankford Armory) .
Powder measuring scale and or powder measure. Primer pocket cleaner. Case lube for certain calibers.
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Powder measuring scale and or powder measure. Primer pocket cleaner. Case lube for certain calibers.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
franzas
Member
The bare minimum you need for straight-wall pistol rounds:
-A sturdy bench
-Press
-Shellholder(s)
-Powder measure
-Scale
-Carbide dies
-Some way to clean brass
-Some way to prime brass
-Calipers
-A sturdy bench
-Press
-Shellholder(s)
-Powder measure
-Scale
-Carbide dies
-Some way to clean brass
-Some way to prime brass
-Calipers
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DRAINSMITH
Member
A mentor. Preferably someone that uses the same press that you have, but not a necessity.
Always remember this is the most relaxing and dangerous hobby that you will ever do. Do not become complacent.
Always remember this is the most relaxing and dangerous hobby that you will ever do. Do not become complacent.
fredj338
Member
Need & want, totally diff things. All you need; press, scale to set the measure, calipers for measuring OAL, dies & shell plate for the caliber you are loading. 2-3 reloading manuals, which you should read prior to reloading anything. Anything else is gravy. You might verify the powder measure came with a small chamber for handgun, if not, you need that.
A tumbler is nice but not required. The brass needs to be clean but that can be done rolling them in a damp towel. You will need a sturdy bench to mount any progressive to.
A tumbler is nice but not required. The brass needs to be clean but that can be done rolling them in a damp towel. You will need a sturdy bench to mount any progressive to.
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Ballistic147
Member
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- Feb 24, 2015
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I bought the Hornady LNL last year. It's very easy to set up and use. As others have said, buy yourself a few reloading manuals first and read them. The Hornady manual is my favorite. Next, watch all the Youtube videos from Hornady on setting up and using the press. They are extremely helpful. By the time I did all that setting up the press was a piece of cake.
Next up, you will need a 44 Special die set and the corresponding shell plate. It's the #30 shell plate. the press comes with the powder meter and the priming mechanism.
Now you will need a set of scales in order to set up the case activated powder drop that came with the press. I use digital but a beam scale will work too. I also bought a weight check set to verify that your scales are calibrated and reading correctly. If done properly this will keep you from blowing yourself and/or the gun up. So far all of these items are must have in order to use your new press.
Optional items would be a tumbler along with some corn cob media to clean and polish the cases. A primer flipper. Yes, this little tool will flip all of your primers over so you can use the primer pick up tube that came with the press. Some type of case lube. I like the Hornady One Shot for straight wall cartridges. Makes sizing them go a lot smoother.
Once you have all the necessities and the optional items together, have set the press up and you're ready to go read the manual a couple more times just to be safe. Providing you follow all the safety rules and don't start with max loads you should be fine. This is a great place to seek advice when needed. Remember there are no stupid questions!
Next up, you will need a 44 Special die set and the corresponding shell plate. It's the #30 shell plate. the press comes with the powder meter and the priming mechanism.
Now you will need a set of scales in order to set up the case activated powder drop that came with the press. I use digital but a beam scale will work too. I also bought a weight check set to verify that your scales are calibrated and reading correctly. If done properly this will keep you from blowing yourself and/or the gun up. So far all of these items are must have in order to use your new press.
Optional items would be a tumbler along with some corn cob media to clean and polish the cases. A primer flipper. Yes, this little tool will flip all of your primers over so you can use the primer pick up tube that came with the press. Some type of case lube. I like the Hornady One Shot for straight wall cartridges. Makes sizing them go a lot smoother.
Once you have all the necessities and the optional items together, have set the press up and you're ready to go read the manual a couple more times just to be safe. Providing you follow all the safety rules and don't start with max loads you should be fine. This is a great place to seek advice when needed. Remember there are no stupid questions!
daniel lawecki
Member
Ultimate Reloader has videos that will help there is a lot of stuff you need. You need to tell us pistol ,rifle or both. the LNL and load will primer small and large primers. But if your have the large spool in the powder thrower that is for rifle you will need the pistol spool for metering smaller charges. you will spent a few hundred dollars or more just to get going. Watch videos and ask ? here from time to time. That is the press I use PM me I will try and help.
crankyoldlady
Member
Brand new to reloading? Get yourself a bullet puller. You'll need it.
You waited this long. Get some manuals and read the FRONT section of each.
You seem to have decided on a caliber. Regardless of anything else, you will need brass. I would recommend Starline. Odds of finding 44 spl in once fired is slim.
After that, make some decisions, work slow and safe. Enjoy the process, don't be in a big hurry to make a bunch of bullets.
You seem to have decided on a caliber. Regardless of anything else, you will need brass. I would recommend Starline. Odds of finding 44 spl in once fired is slim.
After that, make some decisions, work slow and safe. Enjoy the process, don't be in a big hurry to make a bunch of bullets.
franzas
Member
You'll need components...
.....but first get the how to book and read through it. Videos are great, but if done by individuals they don't often have some points and safety requirements. Like...
Don't set primers too high. At best you will lock up your revolver, at worst a round will go off when you don't want it to.
Make sure that all bullets used are just as the book directs, OR use calipers and whatever to verify that they are equivalants.
Make sure that you don't double charge a fast powder in a case. It WILL blow up your gun.
Don't start loading at max. Back off and work your way up. I'd start at lighter load, then go to mid. From there work up in .2 grain increments.
There's more, but you can see how important some of this info is, so read the book first. When you've read enough you need to decide what components that you are going to use.
Primer, standard and large pistol primers. Use magnum primers if the book calls for it. They all go bang and any of the common brands work just fine.
Bullets- What do you intend to start loading. You don't want cowboy bullets so you probably either want hard cast coated, plated, or jacketed bullets. What style? RN, SWC?, JHP? What weight.
When you decide what kind of bullets you want to shoot, buy them or get them on order, then decide what powder will do the job. What velocity are you looking for with what type and weight f bullet?
Now you can select a powder for the weight, type and velocity of bullet that you are going to use. Buy locally if possible. If you order powder online it costs an extra $30 for a hazmat fee.
Do you have empty brass??? You'll sure need that. Try to get some that is all the same brand and uniform to make the job simpler. Starline brass is very good. All of the common brands will work, but how many times will you be able to reload them before they crack somewhere?
You might need to use some case lube to make the job easier. For pistol brass one of the spray ons would probably be adequate, if needed at all.
Boxes. I use the plastic cases that are partitioned off but lately I use more Tupperware, cookie tins, etc. You can use empty ammo boxes, but make sure to label everything correctly.
It may be good to start with a notebook to record your loads, what works best and what doesn't.
PS: If you are going to shoot lead bullets, get a Lyman 49th that has lots of cast data. You could buy their cast bullet manual, but it just cuts out the jacketed data so it's smaller.
.....but first get the how to book and read through it. Videos are great, but if done by individuals they don't often have some points and safety requirements. Like...
Don't set primers too high. At best you will lock up your revolver, at worst a round will go off when you don't want it to.
Make sure that all bullets used are just as the book directs, OR use calipers and whatever to verify that they are equivalants.
Make sure that you don't double charge a fast powder in a case. It WILL blow up your gun.
Don't start loading at max. Back off and work your way up. I'd start at lighter load, then go to mid. From there work up in .2 grain increments.
There's more, but you can see how important some of this info is, so read the book first. When you've read enough you need to decide what components that you are going to use.
Primer, standard and large pistol primers. Use magnum primers if the book calls for it. They all go bang and any of the common brands work just fine.
Bullets- What do you intend to start loading. You don't want cowboy bullets so you probably either want hard cast coated, plated, or jacketed bullets. What style? RN, SWC?, JHP? What weight.
When you decide what kind of bullets you want to shoot, buy them or get them on order, then decide what powder will do the job. What velocity are you looking for with what type and weight f bullet?
Now you can select a powder for the weight, type and velocity of bullet that you are going to use. Buy locally if possible. If you order powder online it costs an extra $30 for a hazmat fee.
Do you have empty brass??? You'll sure need that. Try to get some that is all the same brand and uniform to make the job simpler. Starline brass is very good. All of the common brands will work, but how many times will you be able to reload them before they crack somewhere?
You might need to use some case lube to make the job easier. For pistol brass one of the spray ons would probably be adequate, if needed at all.
Boxes. I use the plastic cases that are partitioned off but lately I use more Tupperware, cookie tins, etc. You can use empty ammo boxes, but make sure to label everything correctly.
It may be good to start with a notebook to record your loads, what works best and what doesn't.
PS: If you are going to shoot lead bullets, get a Lyman 49th that has lots of cast data. You could buy their cast bullet manual, but it just cuts out the jacketed data so it's smaller.
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joeintexas
US Veteran
I imagine this all sounds overwhelming to you at this point. Just take it one step at a time in your equipment purchases and in the set up and finally making ammo. Manuals are a necessity, also use the powder manufacturers web sites, good info there. As mentioned, a tumbler to clean the brass is nice but you can clean it by hand if the budget is tight. A way to measure and weigh powder, if your press does not have a way to prime brass you will need that. The list can go on and on and eventually it will but for now you can get by on the bare essentials if need be. Above all, have fun and be careful, pay attention to every detail. Lots of videos out there also. Good luck.
